Appresses

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To press firmly against or close to a surface or object; to lay flat or closely in physical contact; to suppress or constrain by applying pressure
2. To hold tightly or closely upon something by applying force; to rest flat against another surface; to restrict movement or expression through pressing
3. To lie or lean closely and firmly against another entity; to flatten or squash by pressure; to inhibit or control by exerting physical pressure

Etymology: "Appresses" is the third-person singular form of "appress," a verb meaning to press firmly against something. The verb itself is an adaptation of the stem "appress-," taken from the past participle of the Latin "apprimere," which combined "ad-" (toward) with "premere" (to press). The Latin verb thus described pressing something close up against another surface, and the English word keeps that physical sense intact.

Synonyms: presses, applies, compresses, flattens, pushes

Antonyms: lifts, raises, releases, removes, loosens